Broken (2013)

The Trouble With Britain

Social dysfunction has long been on the tongue of politicians in the UK, arguing about issues concerning the youth of today - especially in light of the summer riots in 2011. Rufus Norris’ film, based on the novel by Daniel Clay, examines the heartbreaking tragedy the lies beneath the surface of British society, through the eyes of childhood.

Set in a small cul-de-sac in suburban England, our story is seen, largely, through the eyes of Skunk (Eloise Laurence), a young girl who lives with her solicitor father Archie (Tim Roth) and brother Jed (Bill Milner). Across the road from Skunk, live the Buckley family - a husband and wife, with their awkward son Rick. And across the road from the Buckley family live the Oswalds. There, the dad is called Bob (Rory Kinnear), and he lives with his three mouthy girls.

One day, Skunk witness Mr Oswald attack Rick outside the Buckley home, which we later learn is due to Mr Oswald being told by his daughter that she had slept with Rick (a lie the girl was forced into, after her dad found an empty condom packet). This sets off a chain of events between these three families that reveal the hardships of modern parenthood, as well as the daunting prospect of growing up in today’s Britain.

Norris utilizes staggered sequencing which allows moments in the film to be revisited from a different perspective - such as the attack on Rick which comes first, and then we see the events which caused it. This storytelling device is extremely effective as it allows a sense of evaluation to take place - we see the fallout before the cause, and how decisions can lead to such brutal consequences.

Essentially, Broken could stand for broken families - but that would ignore too much of the film’s larger themes, such as the broken communication between people in the street, or a broken sense of community. Bob Oswald, arguably the film’s villain, does not act out of evil or a sense of hatred - he is simply trying to do best by his girls. Similarly, when Rick’s father fails to confront his son’s attacker, he does so out of hoping to do best by his son.

These questions around the issues of parenting are what make the film a loud voice amongst the modern debates - asking the audience to find where they went wrong. The film also pits larger themes against each other, such as the innocence of youth versus the fragility of adulthood, and the idea of courage versus pragmatism.

A social drama with huge amounts of subtext, Broken is a standout British film. The performances are superb, the story is expertly interwoven, and Norris’ genius behind the camera make this one of the most intelligent and gripping films of the year.